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Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).
This weekend, from Friday, April 12 to Sunday, April 14 features Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle, a Game of Thrones cocktail event, the LA Art Book Fair, the L.A. Times Festival of Books, MONSTERPALOOZA, Bergamot’s Spring Open House, and MUCH more.
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Remember you can always go to our L.A. events calendar page to get an updated rundown of what’s happening around the city.
Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your weekend!
Keep in mind that while we retain complete editorial control of our content, for some of the ticketing options provided we utilize affiliate links and receive a commission if you purchase through our links.
Friday April 12th, 2019
1. Alcove & Big Bar are hosting an epic Game of Thrones party transforming their multiple patio and interior spaces into Westeros and beyond. GOT fans should be prepared for a night filled with immersive experiences, entertainment, cocktail and food.
2. I want to live in your mouth is a a new, immersive horror experience at Zombie Joe’s Underground theater in North Hollywood, specifically designed for an audience of one (if you’re daring enough!). Performances run Thursday to Sunday through May 5.
3. LA Art Book Fair takes over The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA April 11-14 providing artists a platform to display their books, art catalogs, zines, and more. The event is free and open to the public from April 12-14. Opening night takes place on April 11 where tickets cost $20 and comes with a limited edition work by artist Jeffrey Cheung of Unity Press and a special musical performance.
4. Dodger’s will take on the Milwaukee Brewers this Friday and after the game everyone will enjoy their popular Friday Night Fireworks show. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar
5. Drunken Devil’s True Crime Supper Club presents To Live and Di(n)e in L.A. a night where guests will dine with some of the most notorious serial killers in Los Angeles such as Charles Manson and Richard Ramirez. Elizabeth Short a.k.a. The Black Dahlia will also make an appearance. Guests will indulge in a four course meal inspired by each crime figure and era paired with cocktails. Live entertainment and a cocktail party will also take place.
6. Universal Studios Hollywood hosts a Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle Premiere Night April 11 – 12. Festivities begin with a walk down the red-carpet with plenty of photo-ops, followed by a catered dinner. The main spectacle lies in the Hogwarts™ Castle, which will be covered with sinister curses and frightening creatures featuring the Dark Arts, a brand-new, striking presentation of light and music.
7. From April 12-14 The Toyota Grand Prix features live street racing, live music concerts, a lifestyle expo, kids kart racing, dancing contests, food trucks and more.
8. The Walt Disney Concert Hall will host a pre-show reception in the Garden with complementary drinks before enjoying Salonen’s Rite of Spring performed by The LA Philharmonic.(DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar
9. Damn Good Shindig recently opened “Fire and Ice Tavern” at the Scum and Villainy Cantina in Hollywood. In honor of the final season of Game of Thrones they’ll be throwing an immersive experience featuring a costume contest, drink specials, comedic episode recaps, Iron Throne photo op, live music, and more.
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10. MONSTERPALOOZA 2019 returns to the Pasadena Convention Center April 12 – 14 to celebrate the art of monsters and movie magic. Over this three-day affair, attendees have the opportunity to meet the award-winning creature creators from feature films, television and the haunt industry, plus loads of panels, presentations, tutorials and exhibits to browse.
11. 260LA will host a JOIE, Equipment and Current/Elliot sample sale from April 9-14 in their Beverly Hills location.
12. Museum of Illusions will launch a brand new expereince. Guests can walk through eye popping 3D exhibits inspired by cartoons, art, current events, pop culture and more. The museum is open everyday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
13. Makers Mess will host a figure drawing workshop with a live nude model this Friday. Beginners and advance artist are welcome. BYOB.
14. This Friday Caltech’s Stargazing and Lecture series returns to Pasadena for a night of outer worldly discussions and some stargazing. FREE
15. Theater company Source Material returns to Los Angeles with a transgressive staging of Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ at the Bootleg Theatre April 11-13.
16. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Top Gun, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and more.
17. Los Angeles Dance Festival brings attention to the best contemporary dance in our city. Partnering with the Luckman Fine Arts Complex and California State University, Los Angeles this year, the month long curated programs feature a wide range of concert dance.
18. Open Fist’s presents its annual “political pop-up” featuring a rotating roster of short plays that explore the nation’s current social and political climate and how the past year has affected us all. For this show only, the audience will relax on cozy couches in a speakeasy setting at Atwater Village Theatre. The show runs on weekends until April 13.
Saturday April 13th, 2019
19. The largest book festival in the world, the L.A. Times Festival of Books, returns April 13-14 with over 500 authors, celebrities, chefs, musicians, and artists. Among the literary stars and celebrities scheduled to appear: Ali Abbas, Robin Abcarian, Hanif Abdurraqib, Stephanie Abraham, Elizabeth Acevedo, Kwame Alexander, and many more.
20. Bergamot Station in Santa Monica hosts its annual Spring Open Houseon April 13 showcasing various galleries and creative businesses. The art-themed event will be joined by live music, food trucks and special events. FREE
21. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden located in Claremont welcomes Wildflower Week April 13 through April 21. The nine-day celebration of California’s wildflowers will feature annual displays of California poppies, baby-blue eyes, lupines and much more. In addition, there will be an art exhibition, cocktail parties, guided tram tours and more.
22. Volunteer to clean up the L.A. River! On April 13, 20 and 27, thousands of volunteers scour different parts of the L.A. River, collecting trash and helping to improve the environment.
23. The annual Vintage Fashion Show and Tea at the Heritage Square Museum returns April 13 for an afternoon of finger sandwiches, decadent desserts and tea in true “Romance Through the Ages” fashion. This event hosts a themed fashion show where narrators reveal the historic stories behind the styles as models strut down an outdoor runway, surrounded by beautifully restored Victorian homes.
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24.Whale of a Day 2019 at Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes celebrates the migration of the Pacific Gray Whale. Catch a possible view of the whales’ on their journey, enjoy various free, fun-filled activities along with exhibits, food vendors and more. FREE
25. Picture This!, L.A.’s only live animated comedy show celebrates their 7th year anniversary at The Virgil this Saturday. During this show, see standup comics perform as talented animators, cartoonists and artists draw them live.
26. Head to Annenberg PetSpace for a pet health and fitness fair. Suitable for the whole family, guests can stop by a variety of pet health vendors, partake in workshops, demos, and more. FREE
27. Pacific Opera Project (POP) presents for the first time ever, a true-to-story bilingual performance of Madama Butterfly. The show takes place at The Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo.
28. Record Store Day returns on April 13 for another celebration of the legacy of brick-and-mortar record stores and the special role they play in their communities. Dozens of Los Angeles stores will participate.
29. The Griffith Observatory hosts a public star party once a month from 2-9:45 p.m. where folks can get a look at the sun, moon, plants and other objects in the sky through a variety of telescopes. FREE
30. The Earth Day 2019 Community Festival comes to the Joint Administration Office in Whittier on April 13 to celebrate the planet we call home. Exhibitors, tours, kids activities are just some of the hight lights. FREE
31. The NoHo ArtWalk takes place on the second Saturday of every month. This month the event will be held at Noho Plaza from 2-8 p.m. featuring vendors, artists and a dance battle. FREE
32. The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire returns April 6 through May 19 (Saturday and Sundays) at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale for another year of fantasy and fun. Adults and kids alike can enjoy an afternoon of games, rides, mouthwatering food and artisan crafts. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
Sunday April 14th, 20193
33. Gelateria Uli located in the historic Spring Arcade in Downtown Los Angeles will host a 5th Anniversary Party from 2-5 p.m. Music, bubbly, tours of the gelato kitchen, and tons gelato and sorbet will be scooped. Everything will be priced at $5, this includes pints, affogatos, and double scoops.
34. San Gabriel Mission Playhouse welcomes back the Silent Sundays series with live Wurlitzer organ accompaniment. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1929 thriller Blackmail will be screened.
35. If Halloween and horror movies are your favorite topics then I Like Scary Movies Experience will be just what you’re looking for. Guests can expect to see, hear, feel, and smell recreations of iconic moments from IT (2017), Beetlejuice, The Shining, The Lost Boys, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. There won’t be costumed actors jumping out trying to startle but there will be multi-sensory surprises along your winding path. The pop up experience runs April 4 through June 16 Thursday through Sunday.
36. The Egg House visits Los Angeles March 20 – April 28 for an egg-themed, 12,000-square-foot pop-up multi-sensory experience showcasing a series of installations and activations around egg themed creations. Open Wednesday through Sunday.
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37. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County welcomes the traveling exhibition Antarctic Dinosaurs to Southern California from April 3, 2019 through January 5, 2020.
38. Desert X continues its bi-annual public art show February 9 through April 21. Spread throughout the Coachella Valley in various locations, artists are commissioned to use the desert landscape as their canvas with breathtaking results.
Food Pick for the Week
This week’s pick by Christina Champlin, Co-Founder of We Like L.A.
Recently I was tasked to plan a “date night” in my hometown of Alhambra. I thought about the kinds of foods I have a hard time finding west of the 110 freeway and my cravings led me to Nha Trang Noodle House located on Main Street. The craving? Vietnamese noodles. Like most places in the SGV Nha Trang is a casual affair that focuses on food over facade. I ordered the large Bun Bo Hue ($9.50), a Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup. The deep, red broth nicely balances spicy, sour and salty notes. Bun Bo Hue is not like pho. This is an adventurous bowl of noodles. You’ll find a few pieces of pork knuckle, cubes of pork blood and beef shank. The soup has been simmered for hours with beef bones, lemongrass and fermented shrimp sauce creating an aroma that borders on funk. Try it and you just might be obsessed. I know I am.
If you find yourself with hesitant eaters or am one yourself, Nha Trang Noodle House is actually a fusion restaurant serving a number of exciting food interpretations. They have a version of a poutine, fries are covered in Stir Fried Lemongrass Beef ($9.50), drizzled with a garlic ginger aioli and topped with a fried egg. It’s a big order great for sharing. And if you’re looking for a deal there are specials running Monday through Friday. On Wednesdays it’s half off of their crispy tasty chicken wings. For $3 a plate it is an absolute steal. On Mondays you can score an entree and a drink of your choice for $9.99. Whatever you choose, you and your date won’t go wrong.
Nha Trang Noodle House is located at 417 W Main st. Alhambra, CA 91801.
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